Heel-strip blank



(No Model.) I

F. W. COY.

HEEL STRIP BLANK. No. 345,122. Patented July e, 1886.

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FREDERICK W. OOY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-'STRIP BLANK.

Application filed March 2, 1856.

IWIGATION forming pari: of Letters Patent No. 345,122, dated July 6, 1886.

Serial No. 193,775. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Heel-Strips, of which the following is a specication. l

This invention has for its objectto enable small pieces of sole-leather to be utilized in the manufacture of boot and shoe heels.

The invention consists, first, in a heelstrip composed of a series of pieced layers or lifts` cemented together, each of which' is composed of pieces so formed and arranged as that the strip may be cut up into heels without causing the inner edge of either of the lift-pieces to form such angle with the curved margin of the heel as to render it liable to be broken away by the action of a heel-trimming tool, the lifts breaking joints sufficiently to enable them to be secured together and form a strip of indefinite length.

rIheinvcntion also consists in a heel-strip composed of pieccd layers of substantially uniform thickness, and another pieced layer cut away or reduced in thickness at intervals to form a series of concavities or heel-seats at one side of the strip, all of which I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a plan of the iirst or heel-seat layer of my iinproved heclstrip. Fig. 2 represents an 'edge view ofthe same. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the second layer. Fig. 4 represents an edge View ofthe first and second layers. Fig. 5 represents a plan ot' the third layer. Fig. 6 represents an edge view of the first, second, and third layers. the fourth layer. Fig. 8 represents an edge View of the first four layers. Figs. 9 to lt represent methods of forming a series of concave hecl-supporting surfaces on the strip. Fig. 15 represents a view showing pieces not formed in accordance with my invention.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In carrying out my invention I assemble in the form of a layer a series of pieces of leather, a I) b, shaped as shown in Fig. l, the three pieces a b b being of such form as that a heellift can be cut from them, as indicated by dotted lines, there being as many series of Fig. 7 represents a plan of.`

pieces a b I) in the strip as there areto be heels cut therefrom. To said layer I cement a sccond layer, composed of pieces a c c d d c, as shown in Fig. 3. Said pieces break joints with the pieces of the first layer lengthwise of the strip, as shown in Fig. 4, and the six pieces designated as above constitute a series, which is duplicated in the same layer as many times as the length of the strip will allow. To the second layer I cement a third layer, composed of one or more series of pieces, a b b d d a c c e, as shown in Fig. 5, said pieces breaking joints with the pieces of the preceding layer lengthwise of the strip, as shown in Fig. G. I thus continue to build up the strip until it attains the desired thickness, inward edgewise pressure being exerted on the strip to press the abutting edges of the pieces closel y together.

It will be observed, by reference to the dot `ted lines in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 7, indicating where the heelsare to be cut from the strip, that all the division-lines between the pieces composing the levers extend radially with reference to the curved margins oftheheels-that is to say, said division-lines are substantially at right angles with the portions ofsaid curved margins which vthey intersect-so that liability of the breakage of a portion oflany piece by the action of a rotary heel-trimmeris avoided. If the pieces were arranged so that their di visionlincs formed acute angles with. the curved margin of the lieel-for example, as indicated in Fig. l5-a rotary trimmer acting on the heel after it has been died out from the strip would be very likely to break out a portion of each piece at the surface of the heel,

particularly if the cutter were dull. By my I.nrangement of said division-lines I avoid this difficulty.

By forming and arranging the pieces so that those of the different layers break joints lengthwise of the strip, I give the strip *suffi cient stiffness to enable it to be made of any desired length and fed into or through a ma chine which cuts out the heels from it.

The pieces of which the layers are co1nposed are preferably cut by dies from waste scraps of leather, and may be assembled very readily, the pieces being properly assorted and placed by an operator in a suitable guide or holder.

In assembling the pieces to form the layers I use a bed having a iixed abutment for the end of the strip that is first completed, movable side abutments capable of being pressed inwardly against the edges of the strips, a top plate to bear on the upper surface of the completed portion of the strip and prevent the layers from being displaced upwardly by the edgewlsc pressure, and a movable plunger or presser to bear on the upper surface of the strip at a point close tothe end last completed, and prevent any of the pieces from slipping endwise away from the fixed abutment while the inward edgewise pressure is heilig applled. By thus clamping the strip near its unfinished end, and confining it so that its layers can not rise or cockle up when inward 'edgwisc pressure is applied, I insure the tightening of all the joints by said inward pressure. It should be borne in mind, however, that the said top plate does not exert a clamping-pressure on the strip during the inward edgewise pressure, but simply bears againstits upper layer suificiently to prevent cockling up, and is afterward pressed downward to press the layers closely together.

I do not limit myself to the exact shapes of the pieces shown and described but may variously modify the same without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I iind it desirable to use theiive forms, a, b, c, d, and e in making the layers, as said forms enable me to eeonomize stock and cut wasted pieces to good advantage; but I may use a greater or less number of diii'erent forms and maycause the pieces of one or more of the layers to break joints with the pieces of the adjoining layers. also that the division-lines between the pieces composing the layers should extend in such direction as that inwardpressure against the edges of the strip will tighten not only those joints extending in the direction of thelength of the. strip, but also those joints which extend crosswise of the strip. This result is attained by the forms of pieces described and shown.

I prefer to make a series of cavities in one side of Lthe strip to the shape of the bottom ofthe heel portion of last, as shown in Figs. 9 to 14. To this end I cut away portions -of one of the layers, so as to convert said layer into a series of rands, r. This I prefer to accomplish by bending the layer into eoncavoconvex form at suitable intervals, and then cutting off a portion of the convex side with a iiat knife, thus giving thelayer agraduallydecreasing thickness from its margin inwardly, as shown. This treatment may be applied to the first layer, as shown in Fig. 14; but I pre- I regard it as important.

fer to apply it to one of the intermediate layers, as shown in Figs. 9 to 13. In doing this I bend two or more layers into concave-convex form, as shown in Fig. 9, using suitable dies or molds, and then cut o' the convex side of the inner layer along the line s s, Fig. 9, thus giving the strip thus constituted one ilat side and one side having a series of concavites, as

shown in Fig. 11. I then complete the strip by cemeuting one or more flat layers to its fiat side, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Each heel cut from the strip thus formed has a concave side formed to tt the heel portion of the last, and a flat tread-surface. It will be understood that the heels must be cut from the strip as indicated by the dotted lines, in order that the described radial relation of the division-lines to the curved margins of the heel may be preserved.

1. A heel-strip composed o f a series of ce` meuted layers of substantially uniform thickness and of suiiicient length for a seriesV of heels, and a layer molded or formed and cut away at intervals, as described,to form acorresponding series of rand-shaped lifts having concave upper surfaces, as set forth.

2. A heel-strip composed of a series of ccmented layers ot' substantially uniform thickness and of sucient length for a series of heels, another layer molded or formed and cnt away at intervals, as described, to form acorresponding series of rand-shaped lifts having concave upper surfaces, and atop layer molded and cemented to said concave surfaces and composed of pieces having transverse division-lines coinciding with the lines on which the strip is to be cut in forming the fronts or breasts of the heels.

3. A heel-strip composed of one or more pieced layers at one side of the strip which are molded to form a series of concavities,onc or more flat. layers at the opposite side of the strip, and an intermediate pieced layer cut away, as described, at intervals to form a series of rand-shaped lifts, said strip being of sufficient length to form a series of heels, and

FREDK. W. COY.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, H. E. BROWN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 345,122, granted July 6, v1886, upon the application of Frederick W. Coy, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Heel-Strip Blanks,7 an error appears in the printed specification requiring;` correction, as follows: In line 76, page 1, the Word levers should read layers,- and that the Letters Patent should be read with this eorreetion therein that the same may conform to the reoord of the oase in the Patent Ofoe.

Signed, oountersigned, and sealed this 13th day of July, A. D. 1886. [SEAL] D. L. HAWKINS, 4 Acting Secretary of the Interior.

Countersigned:

M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner 0j' Patents. 

